From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (May 28, 2016)–With Flavien Prat orchestrating a pedestrian opening quarter mile in 22.88, Pamela Ziebarth’s comebacking homebred Ambitious Brew marched to an impressive 2 ¼ length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Lennyfrommalibu Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles. Trained by Marty Jones, Ambitious Brew, who had been idle since Oct. 12, covered 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:13.78.
“We ended up getting a great trip,” said Jones. “You could tell after the first quarter mile that he was in the right spot and he was gonna be tough to beat. I keep feeling like I should’ve gotten more out of this horse, he’s a really good horse. Hopefully, we can finish off the year with something big with him.”
The 2-1 second choice in a field of five older horses bred or sired in California, Ambitious Brew paid $6.40, $2.80 and $2.20.
A 6-year-old gelding by Ziebarth’s Tizbud, Ambitious Brew is out of her Forest Wildcat mare, Kathwen. Today’s win marked his third stakes victory and he improved his overall mark to 16-6-6-0. With the winner’s share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $398,380.
“Marty just asked me not to rush him,” said Prat, who was aboard for the first time. “He broke so well and I had an easy lead. I was surprised to be on the lead that easily with him, but after that, when I asked him after crossing the dirt, he just took off.”
Although he appeared full of run crossing the dirt at the top of the lane, Forest Chatter, who may well have been compromised by the slow early pace, never threatened the winner and had to settle for second, 1 ½ lengths in front of Old Man Lake.
Ridden by Mike Smith, Forest Chatter was off at 3-5 and paid $2.20 and $2.10.
The longest shot in the field at 25-1 with Tyler Baze, Old Man Lake completed the trifecta and paid $3.60 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.88, 45.82 and 1:07.90.
The Lennyfromalibu was the first of five California-bred or sired stakes on an 11-race card at Santa Anita.